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    Home » Grocery Picks

    Pomegranate Season Guide: How to Pick, Open, and Enjoy

    December 11, 2022 · by Kelsey Sackmann · This post may contain affiliate links · 9 Comments

    From their distinctive crown to their ruby red arils, pomegranates are royalty amongst fruit. Beautiful, delicious, full of antioxidants - they are the original superfood.

    But when is pomegranate season? How on earth do you open them? And what should you use them for? Here's everything you didn't know you needed to know about pomegranates.

    When Is Pomegranate Season?

    Now is the time to buy the most festive fruit! Most pomegranates grown in the U.S. come from California and are in season from the end of September through November.

    Though some varieties are harvested in late summer, the Wonderful variety, which makes up about 80 percent of the U.S. crop, is only in season from October through January. So be ready to pounce!

    How to Pick a Pomegranate

    hand holding pomegranate

    Pomegranates in the supermarket have been picked when ripe, so they are ready to enjoy as soon as you buy them. The rind doesn’t have to be a perfect red to be filled with the most beautiful, juicy arils! Here's what to look for in a ripe pomegranate.

    • Weight: A ripe pomegranate will be heavy for it's size.
    • Skin: Rub on the skin to make sure it is tight and doesn’t pucker or ripple. Pomegranates dry out and shrink as they get older.

    How To Cut

    Pomegranate season is short and sweet. Luckily, they store really well. Whole pomegranates keep well at room temperature for one month and up to 3 months in the refrigerator.

    Pomegranate seeds (arils) and juice can be refrigerated for 3 days or frozen up to 6 months. However, defrosted arils can become a mushy mess, so it's best to add them, still frozen, to whatever it is you’re making.

    How to Prepare

    Removing the 840 seeds from a pomegranate is a lot easier than you think! The foolproof way to prep pomegranates is to use the no-mess "underwater" technique.

    hands cutting pomegranate during pomegranate season

    Cut off the top about a half inch from the crown.

    Once you remove the top, four to six sections of the white membrane will be visible. Score the skin along each section.

    Gently loosen the sections and submerge in a bowl of water.

    Carefully pry the arils loose using your thumbs. The seeds sink to the bottom and you can scoop out everything that floats to the top!

    Another method is to cut the pomegranate in half, push out the center a bit, hold each half over a bowl with the seeds facing down and tap with the skin with a wooden spoon to release the seeds. I've never had much success with this method, but others swear by it!

    hand holding pomegranate seeds during pomegranate season

    Pomegranates in the Kitchen

    Besides providing a hefty dose of fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants, this ruby-red super fruit makes a delicious topping for salads, oatmeal, or yogurt. Use the sweet-tart seeds in sauces and syrups, or plop them into cocktails.

    Enjoy pomegranate seeds by turn them into juice. Simply remove and crush the seeds in a plastic bag using a rolling pin. Strain the juice and enjoy!

    What's your favorite way to use pomegranate? Let us know in the comments!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lily says

      January 24, 2025 at 3:58 pm

      I love eating pomegrante seeds by the spoonful straight. Need to pick some up!

      Reply
      • Kelsey Sackmann says

        February 02, 2025 at 6:15 am

        There's nothing better 😋

        Reply
    2. Joshua says

      September 08, 2024 at 4:32 pm

      Ummm. My favorite pomegranate prep is slice in half and use one of these:
      https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KQ47HL0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

      Reply
      • Kelsey Sackmann says

        September 19, 2024 at 4:09 pm

        Definitely quicker!

        Reply
        • Clay Reynolds says

          October 03, 2024 at 10:15 pm

          jam and juice can't beet it

          Reply
    3. Barry says

      January 14, 2024 at 10:54 am

      best way to de seed a pom cut the (skin) along the equater separate both halves with the seeds facing the palm of your hand gently tap the skin with a wooden spoon or wooden hammer tap center and all around the seeds will fall out in your hand dump in a bowl pick out the parts you don't want or fill with water and the other than the seeds will float to the top discard drain and enjoy this method will remove 90 percent or more
      of the seeds barry.

      Reply
      • Kelsey Sackmann says

        January 14, 2024 at 7:40 pm

        I'll have to give it a try!

        Reply
    4. J. Baggott says

      November 04, 2023 at 4:31 pm

      very very belpful

      Reply
      • Kelsey Sackmann says

        November 11, 2023 at 5:43 am

        I'm so glad! Enjoy 🙂

        Reply

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    Registered dietitian and dog mom (now human mom) helping busy millennials shop smart and eat well on a budget. I share my passion for cooking with quick and easy recipes, grocery tips & time-saving kitchen hacks.  We’ll also discuss my dislike of cheese and cook with my dog, Cooper, from time to time.

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